Australian passports will be linked to vaccination certificates when international travel returns – with expats allowed to home quarantine if they are fully vaxxed.
A picture is beginning to emerge of how travel will look for Australians as New South Wales announces the country’s first roadmap out of lockdown.
Domestic travel around the state will return once NSW hits 70 per cent double vaxxed, Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed.
Ms Berejiklian was hopeful travel over state borders will resume once the country is 80 per cent double dosed.
The state government is looking to international travel resuming after that 80 per cent target is hit, in line with the national plan.
International travel isn’t expected to resume until after Australia hits its 80 per cent double dosed vaccination target – but a picture is starting to emerge of what it will look like
However, international travel is ultimately a matter for the Federal government, which began to outline its plan this week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated Australians stuck overseas will be able to return and quarantine at home later this year.
‘We are looking forward to welcoming many people back home soon. We can get there this year,’ Mr Morrison said in a speech on Wednesday evening.
Home quarantine is expected to become the norm with a 50 person trial underway in South Australia using facial recognition and location technology.
The Federal government has also cleared Covid vaccine passports for launch.
International immunisation passports will be rolled out in October, but details remain vague.
Visitors to Australia may be permitted to home quarantine if they are fully vaccinated with a jab approved by the country’s medical regulator.
Those include AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson but excludes other popular vaccines around the world including Sinovac and Sputnik.
Immunisation information is expected to be automatically be linked to Australian passports for people entering the country.
QR codes are likely to play a role for those travelling overseas.
A spokesman for Stuart Robert, the cabinet minister in charge of digital and data policy, said further details would be released soon.
‘The Morrison government continues to work towards vaccine assurance standards that will be one element of enabling vaccinated Australians to move and travel more freely,’ he said on Wednesday.
NSW reveals new restrictions for pubs, restaurants and gyms and what you’ll need to do to get a haircut as Gladys Berejiklian confirms roadmap out of lockdown for the fully vaccinated after the state records 1,405 new Covid-19 cases
New South Wales has revealed its roadmap for ‘Freedom Day’ once 70 per cent of the adult population is vaccinated with pubs, restaurants, shops, gyms and swimming pools opening up.
But the freedoms will be for the vaccinated only, masks will remain commonplace across New South Wales, employers will still be required to let staff work from home and fully vaxxed people may still be subjected to local area lockdowns.
Ms Berejiklian and her Treasurer Dominic Perrottet on Wednesday announced that punishing restrictions will finally be lifted the Monday after the state hits the 70 per cent double dose target.
It is the first real roadmap out of lockdown that Australia has seen, with the country’s two biggest states and the ACT under the thumb of harsh restrictions.
There is no fixed date for ‘Freedom Day’ set in stone, despite reports this week singling out October 14 or 18 as likely.
Ms Berejiklian said the QR code system for businesses will be able to screen whether customers are vaccinated or not.
People who are not vaccinated will only be able to access ‘critical’ services.
‘If you want to go buy something, you’ll put up your QR code,’ the Premier said. ‘If it’s not a green light saying you will be vaccinated, you won’t be allowed inside.’
Meanwhile, domestic travel will open up for New South Wales and Australian expats returning home are expected to be able to home quarantine in the coming months.
Gatherings in the home
Under the plan, up to five visitors will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children 12 and under).
Up to 20 people will be able to gather in outdoor settings.
Pubs and restaurants
Pubs and restaurants can reopen subject to the one person per four square metre rule inside, and one person per two square metres outside.
Standing while drinking will be allowed outside.
Shops
Shops can reopen under the one person per four square metre rule for vaccinated people only.
Unvaccinated people will only be able to access ‘critical retail’, the NSW Premier said.
Hairdressers and nail salons
‘Personal services’ will reopen will the one person per four square metre rule, with a limit of five clients per premises.
Gyms and recreation
Gyms and indoor recreation centres will be able to reopen under the one person per four square metre rule with classes of up to 20 people.
Swimming pools can reopen.
Major events and entertainment
Outdoor venues including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per four square metres, capped at 5,000 people.
Up to 500 people will be able to attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
Indoor venues including cinemas, theatres, music calls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per four square metres, or 75 per cent of fixed seating capacity.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
Up to 50 guests will be allowed to attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
Churches and places of worship will open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.
Domestic and international travel
Domestic travel around the state will be allowed after NSW hits the 70 per cent target.
Ms Berejiklian said when NSW gets to 80 per cent double dosed, she was confident ‘we will then, at that stage, not (have) any internal borders in Australia’.
That will no doubt be a decision for the other Premiers – given Western Australia’s Mark McGowan has indicated he may not open his borders for months.
The Federal government has announced vaccine passports are set to be rolled out in October.
Immunisation information for passengers entering Australia will linked to Australian passports.
Australia will recognise only the vaccines the medical regulator has approved: AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
Scott Morrison has indicated Australians stuck overseas will be able to return and quarantine at home later this year.
The prime minister used a pre-recorded video message to acknowledge the frustration of citizens and permanent residents blocked from returning because of border closures.
‘We are looking forward to welcoming many people back home soon. We can get there this year,’ Mr Morrison told an awards ceremony for high-achieving Australians working overseas.
‘I thank you once again for your patience and enduring what has been a very frustrating and very difficult time for you.’
Home quarantine is expected to become the norm for returning Australians as vaccination rates increase at home and abroad.
Work
NSW employers must continue to allow staff to work from home if employees are able to do so.
Masks
Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and airports.
Hospitality staff will be required to wear masks outdoors.
Schools and children
Children aged under 12 won’t need to wear a mask.
Schools will reopen on October 25.
Children
Non-vaccinated young people aged under 16 will be able to access all outdoor settings but will only be able to visit indoor venues with members of their household.
Isolation
The NSW government will change its advice for close and casual contacts who are fully vaccinated.
However, those rules won’t be clarified until a time closer to the reopening date.